Blown Head gasket

[beeza]

How can you check if it's blown or has a slight bubble/split in it? Is there a way to do this?

[phil3842]

here is the website for all the answers

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_check_for_a_blown_head_gasket

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_signs_of_a_blown_head_gasket

[beeza]

Thanks Phil!

Awesome mate!

[DNY*BOY]

can you smell coolant

[hyrpm]

you can get a chemical test at most mech places they have this chemical they mix with the coolant if exhaust gasses are getting in the coolant it changes colour

[beeza]

No,but there's a couple of things I need to check of that list though.Wish me luck! :)

[beeza]

you can get a chemical test at most mech places they have this chemical they mix with the coolant if exhaust gasses are getting in the coolant it changes colour

That's what it says in the link above:
Answer
"A blown head gasket will leave a dark smell in the radiator. And you will have high back pressure coming though your radiator cap. Take car to a radiator shop they will place a detector which is a blue liquid inside a "bulb" if the liquid turns yellow you have a leak, also check at places such as Auto Zone ect and see if this can be done for free. Main thing if you drive to long and it overheats a blown engine is your outcome"

If it dosen't change colour does that mean there's no leak? How accurate is it though?

[Limbo]

no, if the leak is not large there will not be a change in coolant.
It will overheat the radiator. The car will use up coolant without leaks.

These are the telltail signs. Only other way is a leak down test will work most of the time

[beeza]

Thanks Limbo.If I have a leak,it's only small.A small annoying bloody leak!

[Limbo]

usually small leak will get worse depending on how much you thrash it.
But it can be an expensive little problem. For your D16y4, might be cheaper to get another engine.

[beeza]

Ah,that's good to hear because I've had the problem for a long time and it hasn't gotten worse.I have been known to drive a bit hard :)

Do you mean expensive labour costs Limbo?

Can a faulty 02 sensor cause the hesitation/surging problem? It's not big but it's just there...causing my car not to run smooth like I want.I've replaced/checked so many things.Maybe it just needs a dyno tune?

[bennjamin]

before taking any more advice off here -

go to a trusted mechanic and order a LEAKDOWN test. IT will tell you exactly where there is leaks in your engine and or sub systems.

[Limbo]

Hesitation & surging could be almost anything.
Best start with full service especially sparkplugs & fuel filter.
Check leads, Dizz points, Throttlebody.
Also do a coolant flush, run something good, OEM honda (i use OEM toyota, but that's a preference cos i find it better than the honda stuff)
o2 sensor, try running it unplugged first and see if that is doing any issues or if you've got the spare cash $100, its a good maintenance as they only have a life of about 80k.

Other thing that it couldbe is injectors are dirty, get them cleaned for piece of mind also.

But yeah Ben's right, get the leak down test first and then work out if you wanna change the head gasket or another engine
Last i heard from another member was a head gasket was about $1k, D16y4 are about $350 + about $400-500 labour.


Ah,that's good to hear because I've had the problem for a long time and it hasn't gotten worse.I have been known to drive a bit hard :)

Do you mean expensive labour costs Limbo?

Can a faulty 02 sensor cause the hesitation/surging problem? It's not big but it's just there...causing my car not to run smooth like I want.I've replaced/checked so many things.Maybe it just needs a dyno tune?

[beeza]

Thanks Benny,I will do that.Thanks mate.

Thanks heaps too Limbo.I've done all of the above except leads and 02 sensor.I've got one ready to go in but I will unplug it and see what that does.
Really $350 for the actual headgasket???

[JasonGilholme]

you can get a whole d series engine for 350 :p

[beeza]

haha tell me about it...hehehe

[Limbo]

hmm you read it wrong.
Its $1k to do the head gasket. The gasket is about $100 or so, but its the time & pulling things out.

The $350 was for another engine! So Jason was smack on

[beeza]

Cool as,thanks mate.True,I don't to be doing a HG myself and I certainly don't want to pay $1k.
I'm thinking to do:
1st - Compression test (I will buy a compression tool cause I want one :) )
2nd -Leakdown test
3rd - Change the leads and 02 sensor (I want to that anyways)
4th - Dynotune

I'll see what happens but at least I got a rough plan.It's not worth changing the HG if it needs it for $1k though.It's not a big problem.

[Limbo]

yeah jsut keep and eye on it and drive it till it blows!
then rebuild it & boost the little bugger!

[beeza]

haha Gotcha Limbo! :)

[nd55]

> Really $350 for the actual headgasket???

Must be OEM.

Aftermarket is a lot less.

I bought an entire rebuild kit for that. I believe the quality is OK, as there's many name brands in there. Look at FJT distributors for like kits.

I think the biggest problem with blown gaskets is that if the head is warped it needs to be machined flat.

Good luck Beeza.

Nick.

[beeza]

Thanks Nick!

I'm pretty sure my problem is the tps.I need to calibrate the tps voltages again.

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100843

[EK1.6LCIV]

wow, if you do it yourself post some pics :)

[beeza]

What's that Ryan,the headgasket or tps?

The Headgasket,I won't be doing myself :)

If I can get a 4.5V reading on the tps at WOT,I'll do a DIY on it :)

[EK1.6LCIV]

it would be a fun project, I got the timing to do on mine yet and the water pump lol

next week has me ripping apart the clutch master cylinder and replacing the slave as well, fun to be had. Then off to the hire place for the air compressor

[beeza]

Awesome man!

It's a lot of fun if you got a nice and comfortable work environment.

I always find I'm doing the work in some random place lol

[Lukezen27]

Hannys did my HG for $600 total including ARP head stud install...

[Daveo]

If your BHG is blown good and proper-like, then coolant can get into the oil and vice-versa.

It doens't always go both ways, sometimes coolant goes into the oil, but the car still runs fine and there's no loss of compression into the cooling channels...

largely depends on whereabouts it's blown (if at all... maybe there's some other issue disguised behind BHG-esque symptoms)

[denrie]

did u check the oil and see if it looks milky?

[beeza]

Yes I did.No luck...

[Lukezen27]

Yes I did.No luck...

Just go to Hannys beeza...

Ask Robbert for his magic Honda wisdom!

Pete's good too but only after you get to know him lol

[string]

OEM Headgaskets are pretty cheap, I got 2 for USD$50 each a while back off ebay. It's a sucky job to do, but while your doing it remind yourself that a mechanic isn't getting your money.

[bennjamin]

did you get a leakdown test yet brett ?

[beeza]

Luke - That's in sydney isn't it? I'm on the Goldy,but yeah I got a couple more things to try then I will seek some great honda knowledge.

Benny - No not yet.I'm thinking I will swap in a 02 sensor,if no workie then leads then TB then fuel pump.

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101809

Thanks mate.

[Lukezen27]

Luke - That's in sydney isn't it? I'm on the Goldy,but yeah I got a couple more things to try then I will seek some great honda knowledge.

Benny - No not yet.I'm thinking I will swap in a 02 sensor,if no workie then leads then TB then fuel pump.

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101809

Thanks mate.

Yeah Smithfield ;)

[beeza]

Thanks Luke.

[beeza]

My problem turned out to be the 02 sensor and the Throttle body but mainly the 02 sensor.

[Lukezen27]

My problem turned out to be the 02 sensor and the Throttle body but mainly the 02 sensor.


cool char

[beeza]

Ya!

Finially....

Took my car to some nice twisties yesterday to celebrate!! :)

[Lukezen27]

Ya!

Finially....

Took my car to some nice twisties yesterday to celebrate!! :)

hehehe go son

I got my piping do :thumbsup:

Need to up the boost now though

[beeza]

Oh nice Luke!

Looks like you'll be busy for a while then :)

[denrie]

you may see the oil dip stick pretty much milky!